Biodata Personel SMASH - New Indonesian Boy Band "SMASH"SMASH? Probably still a lot of gossip Artis Indonesia lovers who are not familiar with this Indonesian boy band. Boyband, which consisted of seven personnel is still classified as a newcomer in Indonesian music. Their presence attracted enough attention because of their style and appearance is slightly different and a little more unique.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

"His goal was bringing together rich and poor, city and country, old and young, male and female; he also combined a form in which abstraction and realism coexisted, a contemporary idyll that brought together people of different races and sexual identities." ~ Ann E. Gibson

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Each year, snow-worshipers dust off their Viking horns and line the streets of Breckenridge, Colorado, to pay homage to Ullr, the mythical Norse god of snow. Join the 48th annual celebrations from January 9 to 15, 2011 to give thanks for Breckenridge�s bountiful early-season snowfall, over 130 inches in the first four weeks of the season.

This annual week-long celebration of Ullr (pronounced Ooh-ler), brings to Breckenridge a legendary Main Street parade along with live entertainment, the Ullr Dating Game, Ullympics and a family ice skating party.

On the heels of the Ullr Fest comes the 21st International Snow Sculpture Championships from January 25 to 30. Sixteen teams from around the globe have been invited to compete from nine countries. New is an eco-friendly, LED lighting system that will add to the artistry with color washes during viewing week, January 30 through February 6, weather permitting.

At the event, attended annually by more than 30,000 people, four-person teams are assigned 12-foot-tall, 20-ton blocks of machine-made Colorado snow. Artists achieve finished pieces after a total of 65 intense hours of work without the use of power tools, internal support structures or colorants.

Sculpting begins with a shotgun start and finishes with teams working through the night to hand-carve anything from enormous pieces of whimsy to powerful social commentary. Judging commences with awards presented to first, second and third places, along with designations of People�s Choice, Kids� Choice and Artists� Choice.

Rahma Azhari Topless - Naked PhotosRahma Azhari once again make a scene. After some time ago, an intimate photo of Rahma Azhari - Simon McMenemy, coach of the Philippine national football team, circulating on the internet, this time Rahma Azhari's exciting photo with a foreign man become a "hot topic" of discussion in the Blackberry Messenger (BBM) group network.

Kori Newkirk is among talent included in the December/January 2011 issue of Interview magazine's "L.A. ARTWORLD" feature. Curation and text by CHRISTOPHER BOLLEN; Photography by ROBBIE FIMMANO.

Kori NEWKIRK

Most mornings Kori Newkirk takes the bus to his studio in downtown L.A., making him one of the few established artists not reliant on a car. �I haven�t had a car in a year,� he says. �With so much of the art world imploding lately and funding changing, I figured that when my car died I really didn�t need it.� There is something of this scrap-the-past-and-start-over mentality about the 40-year-old artist�s own career, which has already experienced several distinct progressions in the last decade: from this former New Yorker�s rising-star status as a �post-black� artist making decorative paintings to his more complicated media-driven installations in recent years. Now Newkirk seems to be undergoing another creative metamorphosis. �I�m trying to figure out again what it means to be an artist,� he says. �It�s a re-investigation. I�m playing around in my studio.� Most artists of Newkirk�s generation have been boxed into specific mediums or motifs, but Newkirk has always resisted easy classifications. At a recent solo show at the Schindler House, he added black circular magnets with jagged edges to windows, which had the sense of sunspots. �I�m really into science fiction these days,� he explains. �But I also realized that if I lived in a house like that one, it would be all shot up, and the windows would be riddled with bullets.� Another piece in that show was a circular pattern of T-shirts arranged on the floor, covered in sweat and dirt. One day at the studio he realized that his own shirt stains looked almost like tie-dye. Tie dye is traditionally a hippie symbol, but Newkirk says, �that sculpture had to do with labor. My parents might have wanted to enjoy the Summer of Love but they couldn�t. They were working. �I�d love to be outside with you but I have to be in here scrubbing floors.� � Let�s hope Newkirk never gets stuck in classifications.

Born in the Bronx, Kori Newkirk first moved to California for graduate art school in 1995 and eventually settled in Los Angeles, where he began making work out of such obscure but provocative materials as hair extensions, pony beads, and pomade. Since then, the artist (born 1970) has continued to investigate cultural ideas and images of beauty, expanding his practice to include everything from neon lights to fiberglass sharks. In 2007, the Studio Museum in Harlem honored him with a 10-year retrospective of his work. Newkirk is now trying to put the past behind him and forge into some rather astounding and unexpected new directions.

CHRISTOPHER BOLLEN: Where's your studio?

KORI NEWKIRK: Downtown L.A., for the moment. I've been in the same place for about 10 years, but I'm ready to leave. Downtown is becoming very gentrified-the entitlement isn't good for me.

CB: Because prices are going up? Or is it about being in an atmosphere that's bad for making work?

KN: The atmosphere. Gentrification is a complicated thing, you know? I'm more used to it in the traditional sense, where it's a nice, long, slow thing-the New York style. In downtown L.A., money is making it happen very quickly. I prefer to be around people who have to work-to look out my window and see people who are, like, pushing carts and struggling.

CB: You recently had a show at LA>

KN: I wanted to deal with the idea of spectacle and celebrity, giving it some resonance with the political situation going on right now. I wanted to make the viewer complicit by having the whole thing mirrored-so we see ourselves in this.

CB: Do you feel like you fit into the L.A. art scene?

KN: L.A. is a very strange place. It's been really good to me as an artist, but I'm still often times considered a New York artist, even by people who live here. There are collectors in this town who still, to this day, go, "What are you doing here? Did you just arrive?" They think I should be in New York.

I DONT MAKE WORK THAT IS TRADITIONALLY CONSIDERED LOS ANGELES ART. THE ONLY NOIR THING ABOUT MY PRACTICE IS ME.�KORI NEWKIRK

CB: Is that because you had a lot of success in New York?

KN: It might be. Or it might be because I don't make work that is traditionally considered Los Angeles art. The only noir thing about my practice is me. [laughs] The dominant thrust for a while seemed to be noir and ironic. I just keep telling myself that I only live here, I'm not of here. That helps to keep me sane.

CB: So what will you work on next?

KN: I'm still going to tackle the subject of narcissism. [laughs] I'm going to make a giant toppled head out of Plexiglas and metal-like fake stained glass-for an upcoming solo show at The Project in New York.

CB: Whose head?

KN: Mine. [laughs] The head is going to look like it's been pushed over, like when regimes change they knock down all of the old statues and chop off their heads. Whatever happens with the U.S. election, whichever way it goes, I think the work will still resonate.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Video Ashton Kutcher's Sex Tape Release Soon?Ashton Kutcher gossip affair with a woman named Brittney Jones had not yet subsided. Reportedly, the husband of Demi Moore has a "sex tape" with the woman. Really?

When the news of Ashton Kutcher affair with another woman started to emerge, Demi Moore tried to not give a damn. Indeed this Hollywood actress instead renew the promise of her marriage to

Friday, December 24, 2010

Franklin Sirmans hasn�t wasted any time settling into his new post as head of contemporary art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He�s been visiting studios, galleries, and private collections around town, getting to know the works of art in our permanent collection, and planning upcoming exhibitions. Before coming to LACMA, Franklin served as curator of modern and contemporary art at the Menil Collection in Houston, and worked as an independent curator, critic, writer, and editor. Now that he�s been here for a few months, I checked in to see how he was adjusting to his new surroundings.

What brought you to LA?It was the opportunity to work with the team assembled here�including director Michael Govan, and my colleagues throughout the museum�at a really exciting time. Also, right now, the art conversation in Los Angeles is so interesting. Art in Los Angeles is still so young. We�re looking back to the grand old past of, what? The 1950s and 60s. We are still in the midst of a conversation about the formation of the art scene in Los Angeles with the people who were here then and are still here now�Ed Ruscha, Joe Goode, Betye Saar, Samella Lewis, just to name a few. That fascinates me.

What are you finding out about Los Angeles?I�m still checking out the neighborhoods, seeing new places. I went to see Judson Powell in Compton the other day to talk about his work at the Watts Towers in the past and his present work there, building an arts and cultural center.I feel like I know the Culver City scene but I know that�s very little in the scope of things. That said, Lauri Firstenberg at Laxart, Suzanne Vielmetter Projects, and Roberts & Tilton are always interesting.I�ve done studio visits with Betye Saar, who has a wonderful piece in the collection, and Paul McCarthy, also in the collection. I recently did a visit with the curator Samella Lewis, whose work I grew up reading.I knew a lot of artists before coming here. But I didn�t know the collectors and collections in Los Angeles, so I�m trying to get to know them now, as well as artists. I�m also really interested in what�s happening outside the confines of visual art�what people are doing in film, dance, and music, and the vernacular of the city.

What else, besides art?I watch a lot of soccer.

What do you miss about Houston and the Menil Collection?The atmosphere there is so serene. You have the Byzantine Fresco Chapel across the street from the Mark Rothko Chapel. Right there, you also have Barnett Newman�s Broken Obelisk and down the street you have the Menil Collection and behind that you have Cy Twombly�s gallery and behind that you have Dan Flavin�s gallery. It�s like a perfect art experience.But in a lot of ways, that�s what�s happening here at LACMA, right now.

What�s it like getting to know the collection here?I�m interested in exploring the synergy between the Broad collection and the LACMA collection, and we�re doing that already in some new installations this fall.The modern collection here includes some really special pieces�the Giacomettis, for example. The Picassos, those Brancusi birds.There are some wonderful works I would like to see installed�a Marlene Dumas painting that�s been out on loan for a while, a work by John Outterbridge that I really want to see, and Toba Khedoori, a young artist who interests me. We have a wonderful piece of hers in the collection. It�s huge�I�d really love to see that on view. Not easy to do.I want to play on the strengths of the collection, those special objects that we have at hand, and also the relationship we have with artists here in Los Angeles, which is something that will play a prominent role in a future exhibition. More news on that shortly.I want to look at contemporary art in the context of the encyclopedic museum. That was part of the hook, the reason I came here. How, as contemporary viewers, do we look at the art of the past? How can artists help us see the past anew?Amy Heibel

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Rolling Stone's 50 Best Indonesian SingersRolling Stone Indonesia magazine lists 50 best singers of Indonesia. From the 50 best singers, "the legend" Benjamin Sueb selected as the best.

Benjamin Sueb regarded as a singer who has talent, and very Indonesian. Benjamin S also considered to have provided inspiration to the younger generation. In fact, many of the singers who also idolized this

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Hot! Syahrini Intimate Photo With Foreign Man - Foto Syahrini Dan Pria BuleThe intimate photos of Syahrini with a man has spread across the Internet. But this time the hot photo is not with Anang Hermansyah, her former duet, but the photos of Syahrini with a foreign man. The news that blow saying that the intimate photo was circulated via Blacberry Messenger. In the photo, Syahrini that uses

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Pros

Cons

Infiniti described the design of its original FX-series crossover as a "Bionic Cheetah." We can only imagine Nissan's design dictum for the 2011 Nissan Juke was "Bionic Frog." Though certainly distinctive, the result has drawn its share of comments. But like many controversial designs including the Kia Soul, Nissan Cube and Scion xB, the new Juke has its fans, and they are quick to point out the Nissan's muscular, coupelike profile and its sporty driving dynamics.

One may rightly wonder what in the world the Juke would compete against. In this small pond of a segment, we'd see its chief rival being the even shorter but similarly sporty Mini Cooper Clubman S that also offers an enjoyable drive and some measure of practicality within a very small footprint. There's also the Clubman's upcoming rugged brother, the Mini Countryman, which features all-wheel drive (also available on the Juke). But at an estimated $30,000, the Countryman is a lot more money than the 2011 Nissan Juke, which carries a price tag that ranges from between $20,000 and $25,000, depending on equipment.

On the other end of the spending spectrum are the sub-$20,000 Ford Fiesta, Kia Soul, Mazda 2 and Scion xB, but although they are similarly small and funky, apart from the xB they don't come close to the Juke in terms of performance, and none offers the option of AWD.

To nobody's surprise, the 2011 Nissan Juke is targeted toward a young demographic. And once they take it for a spin, these hipsters might discover (as we did) that under the skin this frog is actually a fun-loving prince. Unexpectedly quick and agile, the Juke is much harder to joke about once you've spent some quality time with it.Performance

The Juke has got some juice. Behind the Juke's big smile and below its bugged-out eyes beats a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4 that cranks out a healthy 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) with manual-shift capability is standard in the price-leader Juke S, the trim level that we tested.

Give the command to hop to it and after a slight hesitation out of the blocks the Juke moves out strongly, and so strongly that the steering wheel wriggles a bit with torque steer as the car lunges ahead. The energetic little four-cylinder feels more like a larger, non-turbocharged engine, and we mean that in a good way. There's power across a broad range of rpm and not much whine from the turbo as it spools up (though a few of us like to hear more of it). At the test track the 2011 Nissan Juke sprinted to 60 mph in just 7.3 seconds and ran down the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds — downright quick for a small crossover.

The combination of the inline-4 and the CVT gearbox is expectedly smooth, the first example of an engine this small that seems happy to work with a CVT. Part of the reason might be the CVT's ability to step down into alternate ratios for a quick burst of acceleration. The CVT also features manual-shift capability, which lets you hold a gear (sorry, "ratio") in order to keep the power on tap.

The Juke's braking performance was about average. The pedal provided a linear action with a pleasingly firm feel. At the test track the Juke came to a halt from 60 mph in 123 feet, a respectable number. For comparison a Cooper Clubman we tested posted a stopping distance of only 112 feet, while a Scion xB did the task in 124 feet.

As impressed as we were with the Juke's performance, we were disappointed by its fuel economy. Though official EPA estimates were not yet available as of this test, Nissan estimates 27 city and 32 highway mpg. We averaged just about 22 mpg. Granted, we had the Juke for just one weekend and it spent a fair amount of time in freeway traffic.

Cut the Juke loose on a twisty road and it is in its element, happily bounding from corner to corner. The well-weighted steering and buttoned-down suspension provide crisp response and sure tracking as you turn into a corner, while the big tires hang in there as you push it harder. Not bad from a car that looks like a frog. Running the Juke through the slalom, our track-testing jockey enthused that the Nissan was willing to be chucked between the cones.Comfort

Up front, the 2011 Nissan Juke provides surprisingly firm, well-bolstered seats. The driver seat is height-adjustable and the steering wheel tilts but doesn't telescope. Despite the minimal available adjustments, most staffers could find an ideal driving position. Shorter folks appreciated the ability to have a higher, more commanding view of the road that comes with utility-style vehicles like this one.

The backseats are also well-shaped and are high enough to provide good leg support even for taller passengers. But those over about 5-feet-9 might find headroom limited due to the Juke's sloping roof line.

Over broken pavement, the Juke's firmer underpinnings still manage to minimize the jolt of sharper impacts, and provide an agreeable balance between handling prowess and ride comfort. While cruising at higher freeway speeds, road and wind noise are noticeable, though not loud enough to be intrusive.Function

As we've mentioned, the Juke's seating position affords good sight lines out the front. The rising beltline, sloping roof line, cheeky C-pillars and smallish rear window make parallel parking a bit of a challenge, though the small size of the Juke helps.

Simple and familiar control layouts make acclimating to the 2011 Nissan Juke easy. The climate control has the familiar three knobs, while the wipers and lights are worked via the likewise time-tested stalks. The audio system also features steering-wheel-mounted controls and the iPod integration (the hook-up is located inside the glovebox) is intuitive. Sound quality from our base Juke's system was fairly clean at medium volumes, but cranking it up revealed muddy bass and not much separation.

A couple of shallow, open compartments at the front and rear of the center console give you a place to stash your parking cards and perhaps a small energy bar. The cupholders located between them are generously sized and in addition to your iced coffee are good for holding a cell phone and wallet.

In terms of cargo space, the Juke's styling costs it some functionality. With the rear seats up, there's about 10 cubic feet of cargo space available, but it's useful only for shorter items due to the tapering roof. That said, it still accommodated our golf bag and carry-on travel case (with barely a few inches to spare). Flip the seats down and you'll have 36 cubes, about 3 cubes more than a Mini Clubman or about twice as much space as a large sedan's trunk.

It is possible to put a rear-facing child seat in back, but only if the front passenger is no taller than about 5 feet 6. Of course, placing it facing the front allows a lot more room up front.Design/Fit and Finish

Yes, the 2011 Nissan Juke's geo-amphibious front end will certainly polarize onlookers, but the profile struck us as unquestionably cool with its aggressive bulges around the wheels and tapering greenhouse. Along with the latter, the hidden rear door handles give this four-door crossover a sporty coupelike silhouette. Moving to the rear, it looks as if the Juke's taillights were swiped from a Volvo C30, but otherwise it's a totally unique look astern.

Inside the Juke, the cabin is a bit more restrained and harmonious, with pleasingly rounded forms, such as the dash top and the door release levers. Silver accents brighten things up but hard plastics abound. Though tasteful graining reduces some of the cheapness factor of said plastics, we wish Nissan had spent a few bucks padding the hard door armrests — up front they're thinly covered in cloth while in back they're naked.Who should consider this vehicle

Those who enjoy a responsive little car and aren't afraid of looking different from the masses may find the 2011 Nissan Juke greatly appealing. And so might those who live in congested urban areas where parking spots are at a premium. The Juke, at 15 inches shorter than a Civic sedan, will fit into a lot of curbside spaces that most cars will have to pass up.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

There are significant changes for the 2010 Jaguar XK coupe and convertible. Both previously available engines have been replaced by naturally aspirated and supercharged versions of a new direct-injected 5.0-liter V8. The unique rotary-style gear selector first introduced in the XF has been added to the XK. The exterior has been given more aggressive styling details, while material improvements to the interior create an even more luxurious cabin. Finally, some formerly optional equipment is now standard.Introduction

Jaguar coupes have never been known for swift evolutionary changes. The XK8 was in production for 10 years, the XK-E made it to 13 and the XJS survived to the ripe old age of 21. In human years, that would be like living to see your 225th birthday. However, with the brand first on the brink of being flushed down the corporate drain and now under ambitious new Indian ownership, Jaguar can no longer afford to let its halo car rest on its laurels for years on end. That's why the 2010 Jaguar XK boasts major changes for both coupe and convertible versions.

One significant complaint we've had regarding the XK in the past couple of years has been the lackluster 300-horsepower output from the base V8. For 2010, the XK features an all-new 5.0-liter direct-injected V8. With 385 hp, it's putting out 15 more hp than the heavier BMW 650i and 3 more than the much heavier Mercedes SL550. The supercharged Jaguar XKR never drew any criticisms for its 410-hp V8, but we welcome with open arms this year's supercharged 5.0-liter mill with its upgrade to 510 horses. Given the fact that it has 10 more horses and 80 more pound-feet of torque than a BMW M6, the new XKR should be one wild kick in the teeth.

But there's more than just a power boost for 2010. Jaguar Drive Control, a new feature this year, offers the driver a choice of three different modes to alter the car's sporting responses via attributes such as throttle response, shift speed and suspension settings. The adjustable suspension with adaptive dampers is also new, and it's been designed to maximize ride comfort and handling prowess depending on driving conditions. An electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential is another new feature this year. Design-wise, there are slight adjustments to the exterior to bring a more aggressive and coherent look to the Jag's fascias, while the interior features a welcome supply of improved materials. Finally, the 2010 XK receives the XF sedan's trick rotary gear selection knob, which elegantly rises out of the center console upon ignition.

Overall, Jaguar has really upped its game with the 2010 XK coupe and convertible. The power boost, additional standard equipment and more elegant-looking interior have made the XK fully competitive against already impressive players like the BMW 650i and M6, Mercedes-Benz SL550 and SL63 AMG, and Porsche's 911. It's also worth noting that the XK is less expensive than its principal competitors. The 2010 Jaguar XK has already evolved far beyond its original iteration -- let's hope Jag doesn't let it rest on its laurels for the next 17 years.

For pricing information see Available Models.Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2010 Jaguar XK is available in coupe and convertible body styles, with each offered in XK and XKR trim levels. Standard equipment on the base car includes 19-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors, keyless ignition/entry, leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a heated power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats and automatic dual-zone climate control. Also standard are a touchscreen control interface, Bluetooth, a navigation system and a Bowers & Wilkins premium surround-sound system with in-dash six-CD changer, satellite radio and USB audio interface. The convertible features a power-retractable soft top and power rear windows.

Options include adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control and HD radio. These items are standard on the XKR, as are a supercharged engine, different 19-inch wheels, bigger brakes, and unique interior and exterior trim. Optional on both the XK and XKR are 20-inch wheels and different interior veneers.

For more style information, see our Features and Specs page.Powertrains and Performance

The regular XK is powered by a new 5.0-liter V8 that produces 385 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The 2010 Jaguar XKR features a supercharged version of the same engine that pumps out 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control. EPA estimates for the base coupe are 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway and 16/22 for the base convertible. Both XKR body styles are just slightly less at 15/22 mpg.

For more performance information, see our Features and Specs page.Safety

For more safety information, see our Safety page.Interior Design and Special Features

The 2010 XK's interior is a pretty dramatic departure from the traditional Jaguar look, with a modern dashboard design and the availability of aluminum trim in place of wood. This serves to bring Jaguar into the 21st century, though some might argue that a Jag without wood is like Tom Selleck without the mustache.

For 2010, Jaguar has upgraded the cabin with higher-quality materials, specifically more surfaces covered in contrast-stitched leather. Also new is Jaguar's unique rotary shifter and "Handshake" start-up: The console-mounted start/stop button pulses red when the car is unlocked and, once pressed, fires the engine to life and raises the round shifter into the driver's hand. Some may find it gimmicky, but others will think it's incredibly cool. The multipurpose touchscreen that controls audio, climate, navigation and phone systems is also pretty cool and simple in concept, but we've found it frustrating in practice, with slow processing times and a non-sensitive screen. The abundance of standard features it operates, however, is certainly welcome.

As in any Jaguar, comfort is a priority. The front seats adjust in too many ways to list and feature heating and cooling. The power tilt--and-telescoping wheel is also heated, which is especially handy in the convertible for those cool autumn drives after you lower the power soft top (which takes a scant 18 seconds). The backseat, however, is suitable only for small children or emergency use, and even then, it had better be a major catastrophe. It's better than the 911's backseat, but that's pretty faint praise. The XK coupe's trunk can hold about 11 cubic feet of cargo. With the top down, the XK convertible can still hold a respectable 8 cubic feet.

For more interior features information, see our Features and Specs page.Driving Impressions

Sent through corners, both the standard 2010 Jaguar XK and the XKR display the advantages of aluminum construction, as both versions of the car feel more agile than their predecessors. The new automatically adjustable suspension constantly maximizes ride comfort or handling, depending on the situation. Still, with its suspension biased toward a plush ride, the XK isn't as responsive on a twisty road as a Porsche 911. If you want something that will comfortably eat up hundreds of highway miles while occasionally venturing onto a scenic back road, though, the XK is ideal.

We haven't had a chance to drive an XK with its new engines, but since one of our former beefs with the XK involved its lackluster base power plant, this year's infusion of 85 hp should be a fruitful addition. There were no such objections to last year's 420-hp XKR, so the new 510-hp V8 should further the R's appeal.